Monthly Archives: January 2015

If you are into “clean” eating, low calorie, or unprocessed food, move along, nothing to see here. However, if you are into delicious snack food, that brings you a great sense of joy and happiness, you are in the right place.

Chex mix has always brought me inner food peace. From my Great Aunt Mary’s mix as a child, to the stuff you buy in the store, I have never met a chex mix I didn’t love. Whenever I have felt ill or not hungry, chex mix can usually be counted on to make me feel better. If I am ever on death row, this will be requested as part of my last meal.

Oh, chex mix, how I love you.

Lately I have been on a huge Chex Mix kick. I’ve been making about a batch a week. My friends are getting care packages of it. Every time I make it just a whisper different. You see, that is the beauty of making your own chex mix. You can do anything you want! You can add your favorite things! This is currently how I am making my favorite batch.

Don’t make it all pretty like this, just dump it in a big pile, it makes it easier to mix. I did this purely for a pretty photo.

1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.

2. Melt the butter. Add the next 7 ingredients for the sauce to your melted butter.

3. In a large 9×13 sheet cake pan, mix together all 9 of the cereals, nuts and chips.

4. Toss “the sauce” and “the mix” together until coated. Be gentle, as you don’t want to crush your cereals. After everything is coated, open up your ranch mix and gently sprinkle that over your sheet pan, gently toss again.

Step 4: the dry ranch mix being incorporated. This is an important step, don’t skip it!

5. Bake for 1 hour, stirring the mixture every 15 minutes.

6. Store in an airtight container, that is if you have any left.

Again, Friends, use this recipe only for good. It has great and powerful juju. It is also perfect for Ranch Days, soccer games, movies, Super Bowls and field trips.

It’s no secret that this ranch girl has embraced social media like my life depended on it. Some might call it a hobby, my Parent’s call it an addiction, I think it’s a necessity in this day in age. Recently, my social media persona and “real” life has collided in some big ways. The result has been some rather amazing and interesting opportunities.

The catalyst for this recent wave of attention was an article by Edward Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee. Randy Pench contributed beautiful photos and awesome video that accompanied the online version. But first let’s back up just a whisper shall we?

The screen shot!

Mr. Ortiz started following me on twitter sometime back. Of course, I followed back because I get all kinds of excited when journalists, teachers, and/or people I lurk follow me. These are the people I learn from, these are also the people I want to learn from me. I respect their thoughts and opinions and I know others do too.

Mr. Ortiz emailed me last fall and wanted to talk about my hogs. Since my falls, springs and summers are generally my busiest times, I had to wait until January to have him and Mr. Pench out to see the ranch and hogs. Winter is the time I get to dedicate to my hogs and opening this ranch’s barn doors.

My Dad couldn’t stand it and had to be apart of the interview. So I felfie photo bombed.

Opening your farm or ranch “barn doors” can be a terrifying thing to people in production agriculture. Unfortunately, we expect to be attacked for what we do. There is just much mis-information being put out by our opponents, we are forced to play a never-winning game of catch up.

I was just a whisper excited.

That is why I take such a transparent stand. I want every reasonable person, who has a thirst for knowledge about their food, to come on out. I want them to know what I do, and why I do it. It really is in my best interest. Having a reputable paper like the Sac Bee come out, makes me accessible to more than a ranch day ever could.

If you get the chance my fellow farmers and ranchers, I urge you to reach out to your local media. Follow their facebook and twitter pages, answer their questions if they ask. I’ve had such wonderful and positive experiences interacting with the media, especially with the Sacramento Bee.

They did it again! You see NPR is having a contest – the winner gets to play in the NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series, so CBM took the plunge and entered! Guess what?

NPR even tweeted at Cold Blue Mountain, it was pretty exciting.

They were the first metal entry and actually made it on NPR’s music page! Talk about fame! I mean, I know I am super bias, but I think they should win (if they do win, I am so leaving the ranch to go with them I can watch! (they don’t know that yet, so shhhhhhh)).

The Tiny Desk video:

Even if they don’t win, they are still doing some pretty exciting stuff! They are about to embark on huge tour! They are leaving the safe and warm embrace of Chico, California to share their musical talents with most of the United States. I am so excited for them, but kinda bummed that they are going to be gone so long! I’m going to be lonely.

If you get the chance, I recommend you catch a show! Or at least go hang out with them. Despite this being pretty heavy screaming music, these are pretty much some of the nicest guys ever. Plus I worry about them and will need updates to make sure they are doing well, washing their socks, underwear and beards.

I’m excited about this Throwback Thursday. It’s one of the few photo’s that have names on the back and comes from my direct line of relatives. This is Sammie Jr.,Hazel, Samuel and Fletcher Brown. My Great Uncle, Great Grandparents and Grandfather, respectively. They are standing in front of the family home on Stampfli Lane in Indian Valley. I would say this photo was probably taken in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s, based on Sammie Jr.’s age here.

Look at the beautiful penmanship on the back of the photo!

After my Grandfather’s death, we briefly lived in this home for a few summers. I can safely tell you it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Between the family history and the varmints living in it, I screamed like a girl often. In addition to that, the water was from a hand-dug well – so it smelled like sulfur and turned my hair and nails red if I showered in it. I either had to bribe neighbors with food or go down to the campground to find a decent shower where I would actually smell better after.

The Brown Family Home today. The window on the right is the background from the top photo.

Sadly, everyone in this photo has died. I was lucky enough to know my Grandfather and my Dad does have memories of his Grandparents, so stay tuned for some future blogs about them. This whole family is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Oroville, Butte County, CA, 5646 Lincoln Blvd, CA 95966.

I am ecstatic to share this. I’ve known the Abbey since birth, and her husband, Spencer and I attended Chico State together. The Kingdon’s have been friends with the Brown’s for generations and our ranches also neighbor each other. I have endless happy memories of spending time with this family. They also happen to be cattle people that I deeply respect and learn from often. For these reasons, I can think of no better people to be putting this awesome event on. I’m excited that people like Abbey, Spencer and Maezy are not only continuing their family legacy but improving upon it. I urge you to attend this conference, I know you will learn much.

The Jefferson Center for Holistic Management is owned and operated by the Smiths: Spencer, Abbey and Maezy Rae

Farmers and ranchers face enormous challenges today: from the drought conditions in the Western US to rising costs of production, regulations, family succession hurdles and feed availability for livestock. As livestock producers, we seek lasting solutions to these issues—as do our neighbors throughout California, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada.

Allan Savory will be speaking at the Grazing for Change Conference

We need a way to increase production of the land we have instead of seeking more production ground, which puts us deeper in debt. We need a way for families to plan together for generations so ranches and farms remain ranches and farms. We need rich, fertile soil to lessen our dependence on highly-coveted irrigation water and make the most of the rainfall and moisture we receive in the arid West. We need rivers to run, soil to stay and communities to grow.

Dr. Christine Jones will be speaking at the Grazing for Change Conference

We call this regenerative agriculture and holistic management makes it possible. We are excited to report that our conference caught the attention of the international community; however, we do not want our local producers to miss this great opportunity to learn from some of the world’s most respected farmers.Enter the promotional code Local2015 when registering to receive 15 percent off now through January 15.

Here is a sneak peek of the topics covered by the leaders of regenerative agriculture at Grazing for Change. This is just a taste of the great content and conversation provided by the conference. Speaking of taste—experience the North State terroir with lunch provided by local caterers, Bacios, meat donated by Llano Seco and Belcampo and greens grown locally especially for this event. Engage in conversation with the speakers, meet leading authors covering the topics of regenerative agriculture, soil cultivation, holistic management and more, and make new friends in fellow attendees during a social hour on Saturday afternoon. Enjoy the local food scene with Chico’s finest microbrewery beer, wine, cheese and sausages.

The effects of holistic management in the Karoo, South Africa.

Grazing in Nature’s Image, the role of Holistic Management (HM);
Mr. Allan Savory, President and Co-Founder of the Savory Institute

An Australian perspective on managing rangelands for drought: what you can do to improve your water holding capacity on-farm.
Dr. Christine Jones, Australian Grasslands Ecologist and Soil Scientist. Co-Founder Amazing Carbon Project.

How to run more livestock on public land; Mr. Tony Malmberg, Rancher & Consultant for Grasslands, LLC

Holistic management helps families work together and build profitable ranches.

Dig into the principles and practices of holistic management in hands-on workshops, roundtable discussions and talks led by accredited holistic management educators including Allan Savory, Jason Rowntree, Rob Rutherford, Bill Burrows, Dr. Christine Jones, Tony Malmberg and Gabe Brown. Learn more about all our speakers. Spend an extra day with us on the land on a ranch tour, on March 1, led by Chico State professor Dr. Cyndi Daley, Gabe Brown and innovative holistic management practitioners.
Grazing for Change is an essential event for farmers and ranchers seeking new tools and practices to cope with drought, rising costs of production, and pasture availability. Small scale and urban farmers, consumers, students and anyone working to make sustainable decisions in their lives will benefit. Grazing for Change is hosted by Chico State University College of Agriculture, the Jefferson Center for Holistic Management and the Savory Institute.Register today to save your seat!

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, I selected a picture from the Table Mountain Ranch. I thought this picture was interesting because it was taken before the ranch house had it’s additions. Several rooms were added to the original house during the 50’s or 60’s.

Hi! Welcome to a new series on The Beef Jar! Throwback Thursday! I’m going to post an old photo and hopefully a story, at least the story I know, to go with it. For my inaugural post, I picked this photo:

In front of the Ranch on Stampfli Lane.

The writing on the back identified these people and horses:

Ernest Learner, Prince

Martha Learner, Balu

‘ ‘ Learner, Star

Lona Jean Nagler, Balie (Sp?)

Barbara Conklin, Star Dust

David Vice, Baley

Sammie Brown, Dusty

Lloyd Goultee (Sp?), Kiluertone (Sp?)

Shirley Bolick, Handy

Millard Gale, Vern

Bill Trull, Popeye

The photo itself was taken on our ranch in Indian Valley. In front of the old ranch house on Stampfli Lane. Sammie Brown was my Great Uncle. He died of polio in 1954, the day my father was born. Look here to see my Dad’s birth announcement in the same paper. Could you imagine what a week it must have been for my family? I know Sammie was a expert horseman that dedicated a lot of his time to teaching others. I ended up with some of Sammie’s pictures, a school book of his, and his death book from his funeral.

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16 hours agoby megraebFun fact about the ranch: we have the oldest pool in Butte County. It’s made of concrete and above ground. Since we’ve had a rough few years out here we decided we’re gonna fix it up and enjoy it this summer. Because we need something nice to live for. #TwoFires#AFlood#SoMuchDrama

17 hours agoby megraebAbout a week ago I let the pigs out to graze. One didn’t come back. Bulleit’s daughter. I’d convinced myself she’d taken off to farrow and died, because I’ve been having bad pig luck here lately. She did take off to farrow, but she didn’t die! She only has two piglets but she’s not dead! #freerangepigshavedrawbacks#gonnabesuperfatpiglets#notdead

2 days agoby megraebThis might look like a mess of sleeping piglets, but in actuality it’s a highly complex and loud security system that will bite ankles and scream at the same time if anyone comes to my door. #SoSafe#BottlePigs#spoiled

3 days agoby megraebI find cool ‘treasures’ on the ranch all the time. Today it was a bird house branch. It’d be a cool show and tell project for a kid. #nature#birdhouse#nest